Get Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia After SPM Through a Video Production School

The Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia is one step on a five-level ladder. According to the Department of Skills Development, the SKM covers Levels 1 to 3. The Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) is Level 4, and the Malaysian Skills Advanced Diploma (DLKM) is Level 5. In July 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said SKM holders can apply for jobs in the public sector, The Sun reported. If you want a creative career after SPM, a video production school can be one route to this national certificate.

What the SKM is, in one paragraph

The SKM is a national skills certificate issued by the Department of Skills Development, known by its Malay initials JPK. It is based on the job skills the industry needs, so it is about what you can do at work. Each level covers more complex work than the one before. We explain the certificate in more depth in what the SKM certificate is. This article is about how an SPM leaver gets one through video production training.

The five levels, and where SPM leavers start

The ladder looks like this:

You climb it in order. The department’s own rules say you must pass a lower SKM level before you sign up for a higher level in the same field. So SPM leavers start at a lower level and work up, and the level you finish at depends on the course you take.

When you speak to a school, ask which SKM level its course leads to. The answer tells you where you will stand on the ladder when you finish.

The routes to an SKM

The department describes two routes that matter here.

The first is training at a recognised centre: a programme at a centre that JPK has accredited for a specific field and skill level. You join a course, learn the skills and are assessed along the way.

The second is recognition of prior achievement, known as PPT. This route is for people who already have the skills from work and want them certified. It suits working adults more than school leavers.

For most SPM leavers, the first route is the realistic one, because you are learning the skills for the first time.

The entry rules the department sets

The department’s minimum entry rules for training through a recognised institute are short. You need to be able to speak and write in both Bahasa Melayu and English. You must also pass a lower SKM level before a higher one in the same field. The department also notes that each training centre may set its own extra conditions.

That means your SPM grades are not the only thing that counts. Language skills and the order of levels matter too. If your BM or English is weak, work on it before you start, because you will use both on the course.

Why a video production school is a good place to earn it

A skills certificate fits video production well. The work is practical: planning a shoot, setting up camera and lights, recording sound, editing and finishing. These are things you show by doing, and skills certification is based on the job skills the industry needs.

A video production school also gives you a portfolio along the way. Every project you finish is something you can show a client or an employer, next to your certificate.

Some schools pair the SKM with another award. One video production school in Skudai, Johor, runs an 18-month programme that ends with a UK Advanced Diploma and the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia. Its course covers editing in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, colour grading, motion graphics and visual effects. It also covers camera work and lighting, brand design and AI tools in media, with real projects throughout.

What comes after your first SKM

Your first certificate does not have to be your last. Because the ladder runs to Level 5, you can keep climbing in the same field later, while you work. You could build your skills on the job first, then come back for the next level when you are ready.

The certificate also sits well beside a portfolio. When you apply for work as an editor, camera operator or motion graphics designer, the certificate shows your training and the portfolio shows your style. Our list of jobs you can get after a film course describes ten of these roles. If you are still comparing schools, our guide to comparing cinematography courses in Malaysia has a checklist you can use alongside the questions below.

Questions to ask a school about the SKM

Before you enrol, ask each school these questions and write down the answers.

1. Does the course lead to an SKM, and at which level?
2. Which field or job area is the certificate in?
3. How are students assessed for the SKM, and when?
4. What other certificate, if any, comes with the course?
5. What does the full course cost, and are there payment plans?

A school that answers clearly is easier to compare with others. If a school is vague about its certificates, ask for the answer in writing before you sign anything.

Take the questions with you

Write the five questions on your phone and take them to your next campus visit. This programme in Johor includes the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia, so ask about it when you sit a demo class.

常见问题

Can I get the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia after SPM?

Yes. SPM leavers can earn the SKM by training at a centre JPK has accredited. You start at a lower level and must pass it before moving to a higher level in the same field.

What are the levels of the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia?

There are five levels in the national skills certification. SKM covers Levels 1 to 3, the Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) is Level 4 and the Malaysian Skills Advanced Diploma (DLKM) is Level 5.

Do I need good SPM results to get an SKM?

The department’s minimum rules ask that you can speak and write in Bahasa Melayu and English, and that you pass a lower level before a higher one. Each training centre may add its own conditions, so ask the school.

Can a video production school give an SKM?

Some can. Ask each school whether its course leads to an SKM and at which level. One programme in Johor ends with a UK Advanced Diploma and the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia.

Is the SKM useful for a job?

It is based on the job skills the industry needs. In July 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister said SKM holders can apply for public sector jobs. In creative work, employers also look at your portfolio.